Representing Yourself in Custody Court: One Parent’s Experiences

In family courts throughout the country, many, if not most, parents represent themselves in custody matters. Moreover, there are very few organized lay advocates with personal experience to provide assistance to first-timers navigating custody court. In this video, Joel Austin, a divorced dad and parent educator, shares stories from his years as a self-represented litigant. He puts into context the statutory criteria on which custody depends, including the quality of communication between parents or guardians, the significance courts’ attach to the performance of important parental duties, and the primary importance of acting in the children’s best interests. The video supplements “Inside Custody Court: Factors Relevant to Decisions,” which explores the relevant legal criteria in greater detail. Both videos were produced and directed by Joseph Mensah, Talisha Riggs, and Danielle Diggins, all Penn Law Class of 2015. They were made in cooperation with Philadelphia Legal Assistance which provides support for parties who appear in family court without lawyers.

Видео Representing Yourself in Custody Court: One Parent’s Experiences канала University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School